Celtics' new front-court addition allows them to unleash lethal lineup

When the Boston Celtics signed veteran free agent Chris Boucher, it unlocked new lineup combinations that mesh with their desire to play at a faster pace more often.

Deploying a skinny, six-foot-nine center will create problems defensively and on the glass at that end of the floor. However, the question is whether Boston can field lineups that are a net positive with him at the five. If it works, it's the type of discovery that can swing games in their favor.

A unit featuring Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, and Boucher could force opponents to downsize or see them lose in a battle of mismatched personnel.

It's a combination that could prove a handful to deal with in transition and in the halfcourt. The Celtics can, of course, play with the personnel involved. They can experiment with how well this premise works when players like Anfernee Simons, Josh Minott, Baylor Scheierman, and Hugo Gonzalez join the mix.

Chris Boucher's natural role

The former Toronto Raptor is not a center by trait. The optimal role to utilize him in is to deploy Boucher at the four in a double-big lineup. However, the more versatile a player, the more minutes they can earn.

Furthermore, it's not just about slotting someone into ideal conditions for them. Boston will need more than Neemias Queta and Luka Garza to fill minutes at center this season. Xavier Tillman Sr. isn't the traditional build to play the pivot, either. However, he can operate as the lone big man on the floor. He figures to do so at times in the upcoming campaign.

As ESPN's Shams Charania reported when the Celtics signed Boucher, the expectation is for him to have a significant role with his new team. That won't just come from working in tandem with another big man.

Defensively, where the concerns come in, he can at least utilize his seven-foot-four wingspan and athleticism as a weak-side rim protector. He can also function as a switchable center when combating pick-and-rolls. And he has the foot speed to hedge and recover as opposed to more plodding behemoths.

Offensively, the eight-year veteran is coming off a season where he averaged 10 points in 17.2 minutes of playing time across 50 games. Boucher knocked down 36.3 percent of the 3.9 attempts he hoisted from behind the arc. He now joins the team that took the most threes per game last season [48.2].

A career 33.9 percent three-point shooter, if Boucher can at least maintain last year's production, it will amplify what Boston is getting from the four and five spots at that end of the floor this season. The former Oregon Duck can add to that with his ability to make plays attacking downhill off the dribble and comfortably get to his mid-range fadeaway jumper.

Signing Boucher late in free agency was a good bit of business by Boston. He adds a quality layer of depth to the Celtics front court. Playing at the five isn't the role he is best suited for. However, when he's in that position, he will become a crucial component to those smaller lineups. They will be imbalanced. However, they could unleash a potent offensive attack that allows those units to be a net positive.